Boxer introduced with live fire exercises

The army has successfully completed two Boxer turret conversion courses in Queensland as it begins introducing the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle to service.

Live fire exercises at the Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland have qualified 35 armoured cavalry crew on new digital sensors, next generation thermal sights and mission systems in the Boxer’s turret.

The courses are designed to convert the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) Australian Light Armoured Vehicle crews to the Boxer turret, fitted to 211 new light armoured vehicles mostly to be built in Queensland by German company Rheinmetall.

Regimental commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel Tom McDermott, said: “Together, we have trained the first generation of Boxer commanders and gunners in remarkably short timeframes, despite the challenges of COVID-19. Overall the vehicle performed above expectations.

“The accuracy of the MK30 cannon and co-axial machine-gun is very impressive.”

The 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment also conducted live fire exercises in the Townsville Field Training Area with the new Boxer vehicles as they were introduced into use by the Australian Army.

Soldiers engaged targets with the MAG-58 Machine Gun, honed their skills on the digitised 30mm turret and practiced firing smoke canisters from the platform’s Grenade Launching System.

To date, 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment have fired more than 7,800 rounds of 30mm ammunition and a further 35,000 rounds of 7.62mm through the coaxial machine gun.

Officer commanding A Squadron, Major Dan Solomon said: “The Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle is far more capable, mobile, better protected and enabled than the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle it is replacing.

“With the increased range of the gun and greater optics package in the turret, the lethality is far greater, allowing us to achieve greater standoff from our targets.”

Picture: Defence/CPL Nicole Dorrett/Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle

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